Charles Eichacker covers crime and general news in the Winthrop area, but his side interests include health, politics, culture and the outdoors. A Maryland native, he first came to Maine in 2004 to attend Colby College. After several years away, including a stint teaching English in China for the Peace Corps, he returned in 2014 for a job at the Ellsworth American. He started writing for the Kennebec Journal in spring 2016. An Eagle Scout and sometimes karaoke singer, his short term life goals include running a marathon, growing tomatoes and playing “Ziggy Stardust” on guitar.

In interviews and public comments throughout the summer, some voters and local officials — from Litchfield, in particular — have criticized the district’s budget proposals, arguing they should be at least $100,000 lower.